topic Re: Aging in Community Chat

Aging

Its Me LuLuBelle2 — Tue, 01 May 2018 02:14:49 GMT

I'll be 65 later this year. I've been truly blessed with good health, have never been hospitalized or take any medication - and truly do not take that for granted. I was looking at my hands today. They have age spots, some raised knuckles, a little arthritis. It got me thinking about the number of diapers these hands have changed, the number of hands (both big and small) they've held, the number of dishes they've washed, the gardening they've done and the hours they spent "on the job." These hands made me think of the good life I've led and how happy I am to be turning 65. Not all of our sisters have been so fortunate - we've lost far too many to insidious diseases. Our looks may be fading, others may dismiss us at old, but we should embrace who we are, what we've accomplished and I look forward to what's around the corner. LuLu

Re: Aging

Newgate — Tue, 01 May 2018 02:20:39 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2 wrote:
I'll be 65 later this year. I've been truly blessed with good health, have never been hospitalized or take any medication - and truly do not take that for granted. I was looking at my hands today. They have age spots, some raised knuckles, a little arthritis. It got me thinking about the number of diapers these hands have changed, the number of hands (both big and small) they've held, the number of dishes they've washed, the gardening they've done and the hours they spent "on the job." These hands made me think of the good life I've led and how happy I am to be turning 65. Not all of our sisters have been so fortunate - we've lost far too many to insidious diseases. Our looks may be fading, others may dismiss us at old, but we should embrace who we are, what we've accomplished and I look forward to what's around the corner. LuLu

@Its Me LuLuBelle2 AMEN! My thoughts exactly!

Re: Aging

phoenixbrd — Tue, 01 May 2018 02:26:23 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2 perspective and gratitude is everything....much love and light back at you.

Re: Aging

Kachina624 — Tue, 01 May 2018 02:32:15 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2. It's nice to hear from someone who's thankful for what she has and isn't looking for the next costly beauty product that hopefully will keep her from aging, but never does.

Re: Aging

151949 — Tue, 01 May 2018 02:39:47 GMT

I once had a very ill patient with a lot of lines and tubes. Her mother was a priest.After I was in her room doing some things her Mom followed me out into the hall and asked me if she could bless my hands for all they do for her daughter. That was many years ago but it has stayed with me still, because she really touched me. Now I look at my arthritis riddled hands and they are almost useless. Things I once did effortlessly are so difficult now.

Re: Aging

QVCkitty1 — Tue, 01 May 2018 03:03:23 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2, you said it so well. I have been lucky healthwise, knees are wonky, but all in all healthy. I'm so grateful for each day, sometimes society seems to treat us like we are not relevant, but I know what I've done, so to heck with them.Growing old sure isn't easy, but as long as you're still curious and interested in the world, it is worth the challenge. JMO.

Re: Aging

x Hedge — Tue, 01 May 2018 04:02:26 GMT

🐨All this mature reflection, touched here and there by a bit of wistfulness is bringing a tear to my eye.

Re: Aging

Mominohio — Tue, 01 May 2018 04:47:08 GMT

The way you describe yourself and your hands brought to mind immediately, my great grandmother.

I was about 11 when she died, and she was always an 'old woman' to me. I loved her many soft wrinkles on her face, and those, and her hands are what I remember most of her.

She was born in 1888 and when I think back about her life, as I often do, I think of all those things you mention. She tilled the soil to grow food, butchered and fished to put meat on their farm table, loved five of her own children and a passel of grandkids and great grandkids.

She and most women of her time embraced their age, and wore it honorably. I get so tired of our 'gotta be young forever' culture. It would be wonderful to feel young physically, but I love to see women with beautiful grey hair, smooth well earned wrinkles, and even those hands full of age spots from years of work and toil. It's real, it represents a life lived. And maybe like me, there are grandchildren and great grandchildren that will fondly remember them for those things, 50 and more years after they are gone.

Re: Aging

Kachina624 — Tue, 01 May 2018 05:12:43 GMT

Beautifully said, @Mominohio.

Re: Aging

Its Me LuLuBelle2 — Tue, 01 May 2018 05:37:45 GMT

Thank you all for your very thoughtful responses. Your kind words mean more to me than you can possibly fathom - I'm truly humbled. LuLu

Re: Aging

qvcaddition — Tue, 01 May 2018 06:19:25 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2

@Newgate wrote:
@Its Me LuLuBelle2 wrote:
I'll be 65 later this year. I've been truly blessed with good health, have never been hospitalized or take any medication - and truly do not take that for granted. I was looking at my hands today. They have age spots, some raised knuckles, a little arthritis. It got me thinking about the number of diapers these hands have changed, the number of hands (both big and small) they've held, the number of dishes they've washed, the gardening they've done and the hours they spent "on the job." These hands made me think of the good life I've led and how happy I am to be turning 65. Not all of our sisters have been so fortunate - we've lost far too many to insidious diseases. Our looks may be fading, others may dismiss us at old, but we should embrace who we are, what we've accomplished and I look forward to what's around the corner. LuLu
@Its Me LuLuBelle2 AMEN! My thoughts exactly!

I second it. I wish I were 65 again. I,m 82, and in good health. I live with my little dog. We go walking 2 miles everyday. She goes almost every where. I lift weights and do senior Zumba gold for 45 min. I then ride a stationary bike for five miles and weight training. Last weeks end I trimmedd 17 bushes. This coming weekend, I will trim two Italian Cypress trees. I am a Great Grandmotherandmother 10 or 11 times.

The reason I say this is, because life is good and enjoy every day regardless. Also you are not old. I have exercised for 59 years. Started with Jack La Lanne on a 78. Very important to start at any age. Makes you strong. Your muscles don't atrophy. If all you can do is walk fine, or bike. Light weight training.. .

Yes, we get ignored or invisible as we age and some think we don,t have a brain, but you know who you are and you are not worthless. Don,t act old and helpless, be strong. Keep up with current ideas a little more and technology. At the same time do for yourself as much as you can, independence.

Re: Aging

Isobel Archer — Tue, 01 May 2018 07:04:54 GMT

I heard a great comment about wrinkles - they don't hurt, and they don't prevent me from doing the things I love. I am grateful for the life well lived that they reflect. Yes!

Re: Aging

AngelPuppy1 — Tue, 01 May 2018 09:17:59 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2 wrote:
I'll be 65 later this year. I've been truly blessed with good health, have never been hospitalized or take any medication - and truly do not take that for granted. I was looking at my hands today. They have age spots, some raised knuckles, a little arthritis. It got me thinking about the number of diapers these hands have changed, the number of hands (both big and small) they've held, the number of dishes they've washed, the gardening they've done and the hours they spent "on the job." These hands made me think of the good life I've led and how happy I am to be turning 65. Not all of our sisters have been so fortunate - we've lost far too many to insidious diseases. Our looks may be fading, others may dismiss us at old, but we should embrace who we are, what we've accomplished and I look forward to what's around the corner. LuLu

@Its Me LuLuBelle2

You are exceptionally blessed to have such good health at almost 65! And it's wonderful that you realize and appreciate it. So many don't and just take it for granted. I, am almost 66 and trust me when I say I am grateful for my life and for my husband. Every day and night --- and in between --- I thank the Good Lord for all that he does for me. However, I have not been so fortunate, nor has my husband, when it comes to good health. Every day is a gift!!!

Re: Aging

Pook — Tue, 01 May 2018 12:35:24 GMT

Some really great and meaningful thoughts here but also a few awfully negative. I'm 65 and don't think of myself as old - but just as me! I workout daily (like I always have) - 45 minutes resistance, 45 minutes Zumba Activate, walk with my dog for 3 miles daily among other things and don't really think about the age number. And yes I use many skin care products and makeup (that actually do work to improve my skin) because I want to look and feel my best and not to stop aging. There's nothing wrong with that like someone stated. I have a great life not always free from problems or health issues. Sure I have aches and pains, am noticing some wrinkles, bumpy fingers, and some stiffness but I just keep being me and will not give in to them saying I embrace my age. Also, I have never felt nor have I been made to feel irrelevant because of my age. I think that's something many project on themselves. Life at any age can be trying and I am not defined by a number or by being old or young.

Re: Aging

qualitygal — Tue, 01 May 2018 10:42:29 GMT

You have hit on something I observed too. I think if you can do molds, take pictures, or whatever, instead of pictures or along with them, this would be a wonderful way to remember our loved ones. We don't need finger prints, even put the "generations" together of oldest to youngest in a family and take a close up picture of the hands. I'd love to have a picture of mine, my sister's, my mom's and her mother's hands.

Our newspaper once had a "generations" picture of members of the same family. Not taking the paper now, I don't know if they still do that.

edited to add: These wrinkles and these gray hairs, I've earned them!

Re: Aging

violann — Tue, 01 May 2018 10:53:41 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2- MANY THANKS FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL COMMENTS, and I could not agree more!

I am grateful for every day, and always striving to keep myself up mentally and physically (and socially and morally to, LOL) as best I can.

Hard times come, you swim against the tide for a while, and sometimes you have to grab a branch to keep yourself from floating away, but you KEEP SWIMMING!

Please Ladies, when you’re feeling down about anything at all, READ WHAT LULU HAS WRITTEN!

Re: Aging

reiki604 — Tue, 01 May 2018 15:25:37 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2, Brava!!!

Re: Aging

QueenDanceALot — Tue, 01 May 2018 16:30:00 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2

You wrote one of the best posts I've EVER read on these boards!

Happy 65th year to you!

Re: Aging

software — Tue, 01 May 2018 17:43:34 GMT

What a wonderful, positive thread!

I'm 65 but in poor health, in fact I had my first surgery at age 6, so I feel like I've been on borrowed time for almost 60 years. But how blessed I've been! I've lived a most wonderful life.

I'm grateful for every day. I've been blessed with 2 wonderful childen and 3 grandchildren. I have many very sweet friends and my faith is always strong, no matter my trials, which in itself is a blessing.

Continued good health, @Its Me LuLuBelle2 and all who replied.

Re: Aging

itsmetoo — Tue, 01 May 2018 18:26:52 GMT

@Its Me LuLuBelle2

This is the most beautiful post I've ever read on this board. Thank you for it.